The Wilmington Town Council on Tuesday passed local laws opting out of allowing cannabis dispensaries and on-site consumption licensing in the town. Town Supervisor Roy Holzer intends to circulate a petition to place the laws on a ballot next November.

Recreational marijuana was legalized statewide in March, and local governments were given until Dec. 31 to pass local laws opting out of allowing cannabis dispensaries and on-site consumption licensing within their boundaries. If local governments don’t opt out by Dec. 31, their municipality will automatically be opted in.

The town council held public hearings on the local laws before its regular meeting on Tuesday. Holzer said that about 20 town residents attended the hearings, and he said all of those who spoke encouraged the council to opt out. Holzer said they had a positive discussion and that everyone seemed “fairly supportive” of the idea of putting the laws on a ballot and allowing the community to make the final decision.

Local laws opting out of allowing cannabis dispensaries and on-site consumption licensing are subject to a permissive referendum. While villages can opt out and pass a resolution to place the laws on the ballot, towns have to wait for residents to file a petition to put the laws on a ballot. If enough residents sign a petition — at least 10% of the residents who voted in the last gubernatorial election — and file it within 45 days of the board vote, the laws can appear on the next general election ballot.

Holzer has plans to circulate a petition for a referendum as a private citizen of Wilmington. He said that town governments don’t get the opportunity to let residents have a direct say that much.

“I trust the citizens of the town of Wilmington to decide this matter,” he said.

Holzer said he believes that the year between now and the general election next November will give the town the opportunity to see how cannabis dispensaries work in other communities.

The board voted 3-1 for opting out of allowing cannabis dispensaries, and unanimously voted to opt out of allowing on-site consumption licensing. Councilor Dawn Stevens cast the lone “no” to opt out of dispensaries, and councilor Rarilee Conway was absent for the vote.

Stevens said the town council voted on the opt-out laws at its last meeting, but hadn’t yet held the public hearings on the laws. Public hearings are required before a town council can vote on adopting a law. Conway was present for the first round of voting, and also voted against opting out of dispensaries.

Stevens said she knew Holzer had plans to circulate a petition, but she said she thinks people will be scouting for areas to put dispensaries and the town could miss an opportunity there.

“If we’re not opted in, they’re not going to look at us,” she said.

Stevens added that the “wrong kind of people” don’t open dispensaries because of the rigorous and expensive process of licensing. She doesn’t think on-site consumption licensing is a good idea because she said people would be “hanging around.” From what she’s seen around Plattsburgh, she said that’s not the case with dispensaries — she said it’s just like a liquor store.

Stevens anticipates that the town’s citizens will vote in favor of allowing dispensaries. She added that a lot of people, like some veterans with post traumatic stress disorder, need cannabis products for medicinal reasons.